Smith Lea: Healthy Streets: A Jurisdictional Review

In May 2013, Toronto City Council recommended that city staff develop Complete Streets Guidelines to help reshape Toronto streets. In advance of the development of these guidelines, Toronto Public Health commissioned three new reports: 1) Healthy Streets: Evidence Review, 2) Healthy Streets: Jurisdictional Review, and 3) Healthy Streets: Design Features and Benefits. These reports identify and assess published evidence for how specific street design choices influence health outcomes, incorporate the practical experiences of transportation and public health professionals from 10 North American jurisdictions, and draw conclusions about how the information can be used to promote healthier street design in Toronto.

The project team that prepared the reports was led by Urban Design 4 Health, and included TCAT, PlaceScape, and MMM Group. TCAT’s primary role on the project was the Jurisdictional Review report. This presentation by Nancy Smith Lea, Director, Toronto Centre for Active Transportation, provides perspectives and examples from other cities based on 16 jurisdictional interviews.